COMIC REVIEWS
(by Aaron Maurer)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Never an Option" (#12)
WRITTEN BY: Ty Templeton
PENCILED BY: Rick Burchett
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: March 3, 1999 (Cover date is May)
RATING: **.5 (out of 5)

"Of course you get to live. You're one of the good guys." -Two-Face to Batman

SUMMARY: After being caught in customs, some smugglers take a hostage, but Two-Face surprisingly drops in and stops them. Later, at police headquarters, Harvey Dent's psychiatrist discusses several cases of Two-Face acting as good guy with Batman and Commisioner Gordon. She reveals that Harvey is using a weighted coin that always lands good side up; this coupled with his identity of the Judge has caused him to make decent decisions. She is worried, though, that Harvey has some sort of death wish since the Judge sentenced him to death for all his crimes. Batman finds out from an accomplice of Two-Face what he is planning
next, but he is inabled by a statue, so Harvey gets away. However, through deductive reasoning, Batman figures out what Harvey is up to. Meanwhile, Two-Face is planning to get out of Gotham with help from members of the Janus Corporation (see "The Lost Years" for background). However, he double-crosses them, and sends them out with parachutes. Batman has been clinging to the outside of the plane this whole time and he swoops in for a skirmish with Dent. Only one parachute is left and the controls to the plane are ruined, so Two-Face says that if the good side comes up, Batman gets the parachute and Harvey dies. Batman tells him that the coin is rigged, but he says it doesn't matter, and when good side comes up, he leaps out of the plane. Batman takes the parachute and jumps after him, grabbing him and opening the chute just as the plane crashes.

COMMENTS: This issue had some good things going for it. First, it incorporated characters from the show (Harvey's shrink, the twin henchguys (Min and Max)) nicely. It's always interesting to see supporting characters again, and this book does a great job. Next, the reference to Two-Face's drug smuggling a few years ago was made. This was a nice, relevant reference to the Lost Years. Also, the art in this issue was, as always, superb. (Check out the final page, for example.) I also like the little gags and nuances a lot. Don't the two drug smugglers from the very beginning of the issue bear a suspicious resemblance to Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob?...

CRITICISMS: All in all, I didn't feel that this story had too much depth. It was just another "switch the coin on Two-Face" escapade with a few rather pointless fights. However, I did like the ending; the last few pages were very dramatic and hopeful. Still, it was too little, too
late.

BOTTOM LINE: If you're a fan of Two-Face, you might enjoy this; otherwise, you may be disappointed.
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

This section gives a little bit more indepth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
The price is $1.99 in the US and..grrrrr...a whopping $3.25 in Canada. (Both our editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the "grrr".)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #13
April 7th
It's the return of Mastermind, the Perfessor and Mister Nice (from the pages of the original BATMAN ADVENTURES series)! This criminal trio has faced its share of challenges in the past, but now a visit from a strange child could lead to the dissolution of their partnership, if not their very lives! Can Batman save some of his greatest enemies?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmga13.jpg

NEXT MONTH: - The final issue of "Gotham Adventures" written by Ty Templeton (we'll miss you)! This issue follows-up on the storyline in , where Harley resists being seduced by the dark side and returning to the Joker. Her romance novel is panned by critics so she goes on a rampage involving...mind control?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bga/bga14.jpg

BATMAN BEYOND #4
April 21st
Etrigan, the Demon, assists Batman in fighting crime in the futuristic Gotham City.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bb/bb4.jpg

NEXT MONTH: Issue #5 - On a field trip to the Gotham Museum of Natural History, Terry and his class are menaced by what appears to be a re-animated Egyptian mummy! Other strange events follow as several students contract a mysterious emaciating disease. Is there a connection between these strange occurrences and the new foreign student in school who seems obsessed with Terry's girlfriend Dana?
Cover: Not available.

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #32
April 7th
Meet Daily Planet janitor Ben Sullivan's girlfriend...Lois Lane? Ben, a mild-mannered staffer with a huge crush on Lois, accidentally becomes the object of the reporter's affections when she's hit by a supervillain's hypnotic device. Now Ben's in seventh heaven while Superman not only must foil a foe who can plant hypnotic suggestions in anyone's mind, but also find a way to break Lois's trance before it becomes irreversible!
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/sa/sa32.jpg

NEXT MONTH:
Superman's greatest enemies have never figured out that Clark Kent and the Man of Steel are one and the same person -- until now. Who's learned the world's greatest secret, and how can Clark prove him wrong before he reveals it to the entire world?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/sa/sa33.jpg
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ANIMATED NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Mania.Com seems to have the inside scoop about Kids'WB! next season. Use this URL to go and check out the information:
http://www.mania.com/columns/amhh/amhh031999_kidswb.html

"CURRENT" ANIMATED SERIES'
-The current animated series has only about 5 more Superman episodes (one of which being a Batman crossover), all of which will air by May. After that, BTAS/STAS will not return until Sept. of 2000 at the earliest.

BATMAN BEYOND
-One of the new villains which has yet to appear this season is named Curare.
-The Comic Book Continuum has an article about this weekend's BATMAN BEYOND episode, if you want some more info on the episode go here:
http://detnews.com/metro/hobbies/comix/stories/9903/17/index.htm

ANIMATED COMICS
-Also it seems that BATMAN BEYOND will only be a limited series, with a new ongoing series (so far titled BATMAN: ADVENTURES BEYOND) premiering in the fall with Hilary J. Bader still writing, but as of yet, an undetermined art team.
-We all knew it was gonna happen. Mark Millar's run wasn't gonna be forever. Get the inside dirt on his final issues of SUPERMAN ADVENTURES, which includes some new characters as well as the most off-beat issue I've ever heard of! Its' all here and all ya gotta do is scroll down some:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comicwire
**NOTE: I'm not sure if this link will work Monday, so this news might be reposted next weekend with the updated link (the link for this page chages frequently as new news updates are made every Monday and Thursday)

OTHER COMICS
-What's DC up to this year? Follow this link: http://www.mania.com/newsarama/dc99.html
-For more, see the "Road Through No Man's Land" section below.

MOVIES
-The third animated Bat-movie is on the way! The first script has been submitted to the WB; the plot hasn't been released, but it HAS been released that, at this point in time, there are NOT plans to have it shown in theatres. They are aiming for an August/September 2000 release date.
-The Gotham Weekly News says that there is a rumour that recent Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow could be the actor chosen to play everyone's favourite feline fatale in the rumoured "Catwoman" movie.
-NBC will be showing "BATMAN FOREVER" from 8:30pm to 11pm on April 4th

TOYS & MERCHANDISE
-The "Mission Masters" series continues in Wave 4 of the new-style animated figures. Riddler is the featured villain and there will undoubtedly be a multitude of hero variants - including a new Batman, and, finally, another Robin (Tim Drake)!
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THE ROAD THROUGH NO MAN'S LAND
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Yes, I know this isn't really an animated topic, but I thought, hey, it's Batman's 60th anniversary, and this is the big event that celebrates it, so I should have a section dedicated to this year-long crossover. Besides, so far it's been excellent in every issue. We have this section split up into two parts - the first saying what has already happened, the second previewing what's to come. Enjoy!

UP UNTIL NOW...
After 100 days of absence, Batman has returned, and took down the Ventriloquist and Scarface; Rhino no runs that sector of town under Batman's control. The GCPD have eliminated the "lesser" gangs in Gotham by starting up a bloody turf war. Batgirl has appeared here and there, and has also encountered Batman himself. Pretty much all the villains have made an appearance as a cameo by now.
The Scarecrow took up refuge in the "Faith Sector" of town, and tries to get them to get into a major gang-war with the Penguin and Black Mask. The Huntress is the only hope once Father Chris agrees to store Penguin's weapons at the church in exchange for food. Batman and Huntress eventually take the Scarecrow down - but he's still on the loose. It is then revealed that Batman is not working out of the Batcave anymore, but Arkham Asylum.
Then we see a flashback of Rene Montoya in Downtown Gotham, where she runs into good-Samaritan Two-Face, who is helping the people there, due to the luck of the coin. Batgirl saves a couple from the Joker's old hideout, and Harold (Batman's mechanic) runs into Gotham to "help fix things".
In earlier March, Batman confronts the Penguin in the Iceberg Lounge - and he wins a small victory, and the Penguin loses some of his power in Gotham; the word of Batman's re-appearance spreads like wildfire. Gordon makes a deal with the devil - figuratively speaking - but no one knows who this devil is. Many think it is Two-Face (there are some hints), but no one knows for sure at this point.
In the most recent story, mob boss/cult-leader Black Mask, who owns the largest chunk of Gotham, tries to take the GCPD sector, putting Oracle in grave danger; she is just about to kill him, but Batgirl gets in the way. And, believe it or not, Lock-Up and KGBeast make appearances, too - and they're on Batman's side, in seems.

That's 12 issues of NML so far. For a complete list, e-mail us.

AS FOR THE OTHER HEROES:
-Robin and Nightwing return to Gotham in June!
-Robin's first duty is to aid Batman in saving Poison Ivy from Clayface.
-Nightwing tries to bring order back to Blackgate prison.
-The Spoiler gives birth in Robin #65.
-Superman arrives in Gotham this April in Batman #566, and will later return in October.
-Catwoman's not really a hero, but I'll include her here anyhow. She's still searching the world for more pretty things. Paris didn't satisfy her - but will New York? She will eventually return to Gotham.
-Azrael will confront the Joker in April.
-A single issue focusing on Alfred's dealings with No Man's Land will also come out soon (LOTDK #118).
-And it seems that new GCPD officer Petit, who has a thirst for blood, gains control of most of the GCPD, leaving Gordon in the cold. I bet Bullock still sticks with 'im, though.
-Speaking of which, a one-shot focussing on how Bullock is handling No Man's Land is also due out.

WHAT'S TO COME...
-For the rest of March, we will see Batman and Batgirl confronting underworld kingpin Black Mask.
-May, we see the GCPD confront the Penguin, and Batman confronts Two-Face. The Penguin and Two-Face stories are said to be two of the most important segments in the battle in No Man's Land.
-Francine Langstrom comes to the Penguin for help, which results in Man-Bat returning to Gotham.
-Batgirl's identity will be revealed in June, in "Legends of the Dark Knight" #120! But rumor is that there may be MULTIPLE Batgirls?
-Also in June, Robin returns to aid Batman in the three-part "Fruit of the Earth" story-arc, featuring Poison Ivy and Clayface.
-See more below.

AND AS FOR THE REMAINING VILLAINS...
-Lock-Up and KGBeast will re-appear in smaller roles, presumably, after their first NML appearances in Batman #565.
-Mr. Freeze seizes control of the power plant to stay alive - and to have something valuable to trade with the rest of society. His story involves - a plumber?
-Poison Ivy has sought refuge in the Robinson Park and turned it into a Garden-of-Eden paradise. But then Clayface appears and turns this Eden into a Hell for Ivy.
-Bane tries to gain control of the city - again - but has to break in from the outside - across the river filled with land mines. This is in Detective Comics #736, in July.
-Man-Bat appears, thanks to the Penguin
-Penguin seems to have the only access to points of the world OUTSIDE of Gotham, and basically rules the city, living in luxury. The GCPD will move in on him during the first major turf war in NO MAN'S LAND.
-Two-Face has seized control of the political and financial districts in Downtown Gotham, and has a unique tie to Rene Montoya of the GCPD. While the GCPD confronts the Penguin, Batman tries to take Two-Face down but fails in his first attempt. Two-Face then releases the Russian assassin "Echo" from Blackgate Prison, who goes on a killing spree, with a bounty on Batgirl's head.
-The Joker doesn't appear as a major player until close to the end, along with the new, improved Harley Quinn - whom will appear with the Joker AND Poison Ivy in August.
-The Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, Mr. Zsasz, and various other "lesser" villains have their own chunks of Gotham to rule as well.
-Ra's Al Ghul, meanwhile, is in Washington D.C. battling Anarky in his new ongoing series.
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TWO-FACE'S TRADING POST
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

I know that there are many people out there that collect Batman OR Superman items - like
myself. I only started a year ago and, believe me, finding some of these items (like action figures) that were released a couple years ago is pretty tough! So, I decided to start up a
little section in the newsletter to help out our fellow Bat-fans. I can only personally guarantee that my entries are 100% true, for I saw these items with my own eyes. So we're working on the honour system here. Sound fair?

ALSO if you are LOOKING for something, e-mail me and I can put your request in the "WANT TO BUY" section. There is the possibility that a fellow subscriber is willing to sell what you're looking for!

IMPORTANT QUERY: Many fans have been unable to see any of the new-style BTAS episodes, and any of the STAS or BATMAN BEYOND episodes. Can someone who is in the know point out a website that tells the copyright laws regarding taping episodes off the TV and selling them to people who want 'em? I'm not saying we're doing this - but I know it would help many out. So if anyone has any official info on this (or, better yet, if someone from the WB network contact us), that'd be great. In the meantime, we won't be selling or trading any home-recorded BTAS episodes here.

Well, here we go! I hope this helps out someone out there!

1. KILLER CROC. Editor Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton has a spare Killer Croc figure lying around, in a mint package. E-mail juno@direct if interested.

2. THE MAD HATTER. Yup! Editor Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton has one spare BTAS "Mad Hatter" figure (in a mint-condition package) in his possession that he is willing to get rid of. This is the only Mad Hatter figure in existance (to our collective knowledge), and is a wonderful figure besides! Sure, that was a shameless plug, but it IS a cool figure. If interested, e-mail him at: juno@direct.ca

3. THE CREEPER. Anyone want this figure? Mail Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton and he'll be able to find one for you. E-mail: juno@direct.ca

4. Wow! Look at all this! If you want any of the following, or are even interested, e-mail Craig at NextNexus@aol.com -Scans are available for all the figures, too. All figures are MOC (mint, on card), and from the various BTAS lines.

Quick-change Bruce Wayne (red outfit)
Quick-change Bruce Wayne in yellow outfit = $35 RARE!
Turbojet Batman
Anti-Freeze Batman
Sky Dive Batman
Decoy Batman (orange "Mask of the Phantasm" card)
Total Armor Batman ("MotP" card)
Robin (w/Turbo Glider)
Dick Grayson/Robin
Ninja Robin
Joker, green face (w/"Laughing Gas" spray gun - original BTAS Joker fig.)
Jet Pack Joker, rare green face ("MotP" card)
Penguin MOC
Mr. Freeze (original deco)
Man-Bat
Clayface
Harley Quinn
Bane (original BTAS card)

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WANTS TO BUY

1. CLAYFACE. Anyone know where to get a "Legends of the Dark Knight" Clayface figure? I know it's not animated, but it still counts for this column...can anyone help? E-mail: juno@direct.ca
2. COMBAT BELT BATMAN, BTAS BATMOBILE. If you know where to find these figures - or a BTAS Batwing (I'm pretty sure one was made) e-mail this address: cnwitkow@concentric.net ___________________________
FEATURED BAT-SITES FOR THIS ISSUE

**BATMAN NEWSLETTER IN THE UK**

Starting soon, a brand new Batman newsletter from the United Kingdom. Brian Davis, well known UK Batfan will be bringing you all the gossip regarding Batman from the UK. There will be exclusive news, reviews and interviews. You will get the news as it happens !!! Hear what the UK think of the latest Batman projects. This monthly newsletter will be very entertaining for fans in all parts of the world. To subscribe simply e-mail here:

batmanUK-subscribe@listbot.com

If you would like to write a letter or ask some questions for the letter section then please e-mail Brian at: BDavis2613@aol.com
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ANIMATED BATMAN/SUPERMAN SITES:

* - indicates a shameless plug for a site a certain double-faced editor created with his bare hands - in other words, a cheap advertising technique.

OFFICIAL SITES
-----
THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
http://www.batman-superman.com
BATMAN:THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://www.batmantas.com
BATMAN BEYOND
http://www.batmanbeyond.com
SUB-ZERO: THE DEFINTIE GUIDE
http://www.batman-subzero.com
DC COMICS
http://www.dccomics.com
TOON ZONE
http://www.toonzone.net
RAVING TOY MANIAC
http://www.toymania.com
VOICE CHASERS
http://www.voicechasers.org

UNOFFICIAL SITES
-----
*TWO-FACE'S TOWER OF TRANQUILITY AND TERROR
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BRIAN CRUZ' WB CARTOON PAGE
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/index.html
BRIAN'S BATMAN PAGE
http://members.aol.com/bdavis2613/main.html
GOTHAM GAZETTE
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED HOMEPAGE
http://www3.sympatico.ca/quartet/home.htm
RA'S AL GHUL'S THE LAZARUS PIT
http://www.aitnet.et/lazaruspit
ANIMANIA
http://hjem.get2net.dk/twt/home.htm
HARLEY'S HAVEN OF HEDONISM
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/harlequinhideaway
THE ANIMATED BAT
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/7382/index.html
BATMAN/SUPERMAN SNAP JUDGMENTS
http://www.snapjudgments.com/batsup.html
BATMAN BEYOND MULTIMEDIA
http://www.prophecysite.com/batman.htm
THE BATCOMPUTER
http://members.spree.com/batcomputer
BATMAN: FOREVER KNIGHT
http://batman.techv.net
WORLD'S FINEST
http://members.spree.com/sip/worldsfinest
CHARACTERS ON THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN
http://www.xse.com/leres/batman.html
ARKHAM ASYLUM
http://animation.acmecity.com/saturday/352
JLA: THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://animation.acmecity.com/character/375
THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES: THE UNOFFICIAL SITE
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/5158

MESSAGE BOARDS
-----
HEAVY DUTY DUBBAS DISCUSSION CENTER
http://members.spree.com/sip/hddboards
SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED MESSAGE BOARD
http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb158314

NEWSGROUPS
-----
news:alt.comics.batman
news:alt.animation.batman
news:alt.comics.superman
news:rec.arts.sf.superman
news:alt.tv.cartoon-network
news:rec.arts.animation
news:alt.animation.warner-bros
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QUESTIONS, SUBMISSIONS, AND FAN-MAIL

If you have any questions, problems, links do not work, or anything else then please e-mail this address with your problems and we'll try to fix them as soon as possible. Also if you'd like to send any fan-mail then please send it to this address:

juno@direct.ca

As for submissions, feel free to submit an article or opinion on anything pertaining to BTAS. Keep in mind that as the editors, we have the right to edit your submissions if we deem it necessary. Such instances would include problems with length, grammar, and language. If we do feel we must edit something, however, we will do our utmost to ensure that the opinion and the basic message of the submission does not change, as that is the most important part of any artcile, and everyone is entitled to it.
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BATMAN: THE ANIMATED ARCHIVES

The very kind people at TOONZONE were nice enough to give us our own little section of their huge and diverse website. The archives contain past newsletters and is semi-regularly updated with the latest one. To check it out go here:

TOONZONE's BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/btan
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LIKE WHAT YA SEE? WANNA SUBSCRIBE? HERE'S HOW!!!

For those of you who are seeing this at the WBC HOMEPAGE BTAN ARCHIVES section, and want to subscribe just follow these simple instructions:

To subscribe email juno@direct.ca and put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

For more information the newsletter just email btaninfo@yahoo.com
Thank you for your time, and thanks for reading! Tell your friends!

-Tim TWO-FACE Leighton and Dick Grayson, editors
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TO ALL GOOD THINGS...
...there must be an end. We would like to thank the endless amount of contributors for contributing their editorials, columns, news, jokes, reviews and other articles. We hope you've all enjoyed it as much as we've enjoyed making it! See ya next time!

CREDITS FOR BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER

EDITORS: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton and "Dick Grayson"
AIR DATE SCHEDULES: Brian Cruz
BTAS REVIEWS: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
EDITORIAL: Laura Hysert
BATMAN BEYOND COLUMN: Ed Wiser
COMIC REVIEWS: Aaron Maurer
TOY REVIEW: Kevin Smith
"BTAN ARCHIVES" MODERATOR: Eileen Delgadillo
TRIVIA: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
ROAD THROUGH NO MAN'S LAND: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
TWO-FACE'S TRADING POST: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
PROMOTIONS AND JUST GETTIN' THE WORD AROUND: Dick Grayson, Eileen Delgadillo, Brian Cruz, Brian Davis
THOSE WHO FILL IN FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY FOUL UP:-P Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
DELIVERY: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
E-MAIL RECEPTION HANDLING: Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
BATMAN CREATED BY: Bob Kane (who else?)

All elements in this newsletter have been copyrighted (copywritten?) by DC Comics, 1999.
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